Reconciliation (Confession) Times for Saints Peter and Paul Parish, Vancouver, BC

RECONCILIATION TIMES (CONFESSIONS)

Wednesday—Friday; 8:00AM

Saturday: 9:30 am and 4:00-4:30 pm

ACT OF CONTRITION

O my God, I am heartily sorry for having offended Thee, and I detest all my sins because of Thy just punishments, but most of all because they have offend Thee, my God, Who art all-good and deserving of all my love. I firmly resolve, with the help of Thy grace, to sin no more and to avoid the near occasions of sin.

OR

My God, I am sorry for my sins with all my heart. In choosing to do wrong and failing to do good, I have sinned against you whom I should love above all things. I firmly intend, with your help, to do penance, to sin no more, and to avoid whatever leads me to sin.

OR

O my God, I am sorry for my sins because I have offended you. I know I should love you above all things. Help me to do penance, to do better, and to avoid anything that might lead me to sin. Amen.

EXAMINATION OF CONSCIENCE

This section has been prepared as a spiritual tool for Adults, High School Students, Teachers, Chaplains, Priests, those who are preparing to receive the Sacrament of Confession and those who teach on the subject.

1. CONDITIONS FOR THE SACRAMENT OF CONFESSION.

  1. Examine his/her conscience. (To do this, one can review the Ten Commandments of God and the Commandments of the Church.)
  2. Have a sincere sorrow for having offended God, with a detestation of one’s sins.
  3. Make a firm resolution to avoid sin in the future and all the dangerous circumstances that lead to sin.
  4. Confess one’s sins to the priest.
  5. Be willing to do penance for the past sins in order to satisfy the Divine Justice for them.
  6. Secrecy of the Sacrament.

On the subject of the secrecy of the Sacrament of Confession, the Catechism of the Holy Catholic Church states:

“Given the delicacy and greatness of this ministry and the respect due to persons, the Church declares that every priest who hears confession is bound under very severe penalties to keep absolute secrecy regarding the sins that his penitents have confessed to him. He can make no use of knowledge that confession gives him about penitents’ lives. This secret, which admits of no exceptions, is called the “sacramental seal,” because what the penitent has made known to the priest remains ‘sealed’ by the sacrament.” [C. C. C. # 1467]

“The secret of the sacrament of reconciliation is sacred, and cannot be violated under any pretext. ‘The sacramental seal is inviolable; therefore, it is a crime for a confessor in any way to betray a penitent by word or in any other manner or for any reason.’” [C. C. C. # 2490]

2. RESTITUTION.

  1. Give its equivalent value to charity.
  2. Pay to repair or replace the property, or
  3. Give its equivalent value to charity.

3. RECEIVING THE HOLY EUCHARIST WHILE IN A STATE OF MORTAL SIN.

To receive the Sacrament of the Holy Eucharist while in a state of mortal sin is a sacrilege. One must prepare himself by receiving the Sacrament of Confession prior to receiving the Sacrament of the Holy Eucharist to ensure that he is in a state of grace.

On this subject, Saint Paul states: “Whoever, therefore, eats the bread and drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be answerable for the body and blood of the Lord. Examine yourselves, and only then eat of the bread and drink of the cup. For all who eat and drink without discerning the body, eat and drink judgment against themselves. For this reason many of you are weak and ill, and some have died.” [1 Cor. 11:27-30]

4. SIN SEPARATES US FROM GOD.

  1. Reconciliation with God by which the penitent recovers his state of grace;
  2. Reconciliation with the Church;
  3. The remission of the eternal punishment incurred through mortal sins;
  4. The remission, at least in part, of temporal punishments resulting from sin;
  5. Peace and serenity of conscience, and spiritual consolation;
  6. An increase of spiritual strength for the Christian battle.

By approaching the Sacrament of Confession, the penitent obtains pardon from God’s mercy for the sins he has committed against God, therefore being reconciled with the Holy Catholic Church which was wounded by the shipwreck of one of its members. (C.C.C. # 1422, 1496)

5. WAYS OF SINNING.

A sin can be committed by thought, desire, word, action or omission.

6. MORTAL SIN.

  1. The thought, desire, word, action or omission must be seriously wrong or considered seriously wrong. It must be serious matter.
  2. The sinner must be mindful of the serious wrong. He must have had sufficient reflection upon committing the sin.
  3. 3. The sinner must fully consent to the sin. His free will must have consented to it.

7. GUILT BY ASSISTING OTHERS TO SIN.

  • By advising someone to sin.
  • By commanding someone to sin.
  • By provoking someone to sin.
  • By consenting to someone’s sin.
  • By showing someone how to sin.
  • By praising someone for his sin.
  • By concealing, remaining silent about, doing nothing to prevent someone’s sin.
  • By taking part in or enjoying the result of someone’s sin.
  • By defending someone’s sin.
8. LIST OF POSSIBLE SINS.
  • Abortion
  • Adultery
  • Anger
  • Animal abuse (chase with motor vehicles, etc…)
  • Animal neglect
  • Assault someone
  • Avarice (making money a god)
  • Bad confession (did not tell the priest the truth)
  • Believed in fortune telling (fate versus faith)
  • Bestiality
  • Birth Control (practice artificial)
  • Business cheating
  • Calumny (accusing others of one’s own sins or faults)
  • Church support neglected
  • Debts neglected
  • Disobey parents
  • Disobey the authorities
  • Dressed immodestly
  • Drug Abuse (causing harm to my health)
  • Drunkedness
  • Employee not doing a just day’s work
  • Employer not paying just wages
  • Envy (jealous of the neighbour’s possessions)
  • Fighting (with brothers and sisters)
  • Fornication (pre-marital sex)
  • Gambling excess and family neglect
  • Gluttony (excessive eating)
  • Gossiped (about friends, neighbours, etc…)
  • Guilty of parents’ sadness or unhappiness by harm or ungratefulness Hatred
  • Holy Day of Obligation (did not attend)
  • Holy Eucharist received in a state of mortal sin.
  • Homosexual or lesbian acts
  • Idolatry
  • Impure books (read)
  • Impure movies (watched)
  • Impure thoughts and desires
  • Impurity entertained (Internet)
  • Laziness
  • Lying (to parents, police officer, in Court)
  • Masturbated
  • Murder
  • Neglected physical welfare of wife/husband/family
  • Neglected spiritual welfare of wife/husband/family
  • Neglected teaching the faith by one’s example
  • Neglected teaching the faith to one’s children
  • Prayers neglected at meals
  • Prayers neglected in morning and night
  • Prejudiced
  • Pride
  • Promote evil practices in society
  • Property damage
  • Racist (being)
  • Revenge (taking)
  • Sacrilege (violated sacred things, damaged Church,
  • striking a priest)
  • Slander
  • Stealing (name what it is)
  • Sunday Mass (did not attend)
  • Superstitious beliefs
  • Swearing
  • Traffic laws disobeyed
  • Used the name of God and Jesus in disrespectful way
  • Used the name of sacred articles in disrespectful way
  • White lies (partial truth)

You may also wish to review the following Bible passages: [Gal. 5:19-21; 1 Cor. 6:9-10; Rev. 21:7-8, 22:15] Search Search

RITE OF PENANCE

THE RITE FOR RECONCILIATION FOR INDIVIDUAL PENITENTS

Texts for the Penitent

The penitent should prepare for the celebration of the sacrament by prayer, reading of Scripture, and silent reflection. The penitent should think over and should regret all sins since the last celebration of the sacrament.

1. RECEPTION OF THE PENITENT

The penitent enters the confessional. After the welcoming of the priest, the penitent makes the sign of the cross saying: In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. The penitent is invited to have trust in God and replies: Amen.

2. READING OF THE WORD OF GOD

The penitent then listens to a text of Scripture which tells about God’s mercy and calls men to conversion.

3. CONFESSION OF SINS AND ACCEPTANCE OF SATISFACTION

The penitent speaks to the priest in a normal conversational fashion. The penitent tells when he/she last celebrated the sacrament and then confesses his/her sins. The penitent then listens to any advice the priest may give and accepts the satisfaction from the priest. The penitent should ask any appropriate questions.

4. PRAYER OF THE PENITENT

Before the absolution is given, the penitent expresses sorrow for sins in these or similar words: My God, I am heartily sorry for having offended You, and I detest all of my sins, because I dread the loss of heaven and the pains of hell, but most of all because they offend You, my God, who are all good and deserving of all of my love. I firmly resolve, with the help of Your grace, to confess all my sins, to do penance, and to amend my life. Amen.Or:

Lord Jesus, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner.

5. ABSOLUTION

The priest offers absolution. God, the Father of mercies, through the death and resurrection of his Son has reconciled the world to himself and sent the Holy Spirit among us for the forgiveness of sins; through the ministry of the Church may God give you pardon and peace, and I absolve you from your sins in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. R. Amen.

6. PROCLAMATION OF PRAISE OF GOD AND DISMISSAL

Penitent and priest give praise to God: Priest: Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good. Penitent: His mercy endures forever. Then the penitent is dismissed by the priest.